Waratahs v Crusaders: Ultimate guide to the Super Rugby final at ANZ Stadium

August 1, 201411:10am

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 31: Adam Ashley-Cooper of the Waratahs runs with the ball with assistance from team mate Rob Horne during the round 16 Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Waratahs at AMI Stadium on May 31, 2013 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Joseph Johnson/Getty Images)

Super Rugby supremacy. In the (sky) blue corner the Waratahs are chasing their first-ever title. In the red (and black) corner, the Crusaders are shooting for a record eighth Super Rugby crown.

TALE OF THE TAPE

It’s the final that 2014 deserved. The two standout teams in the competition – who didn’t play each other in the regular season – will face off at ANZ Stadium for the right to be crowned Super Rugby champions.

It’s a match-up rich on history and one completely dominated by the Crusaders. The Waratahs have not beaten the seven-time champions since 2004, with two of those defeats coming in the ’05 and ’08 finals.

The masters of timing, the Crusaders have yet again aligned their run perfectly after what has become their expected slow start to the season. Todd Blackadder’s side dropped their first two games – against the Chiefs and Blues – and didn’t really look like title contenders until a 40-20 victory over the Brumbies in round 11.

They won five of their last seven in the run home and really fired a warning with a 34-8 triumph over fellow semi-finalists the Highlanders, before a dominant 38-6 thrashing of the Sharks secured their spot in the decider.

Think that’s an impressive way to move into the big show? It is but it’s not quite as special as an eight-match winning run. The Waratahs haven’t been beaten since Anzac Day.

On their road to the final they’ve beaten the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Highlanders and Brumbies to name a few, and picked up a bonus point in all but last weekend’s semi-final win over the ACT side.

Coach Michael Cheika has done a superb job keeping his side focused on the ultimate prize and while they lose a bit by taking the game to Homebush, the fans that once wouldn’t have travelled beyond Paddington will have hopefully been inspired to do so.

It’s a fixture laden with All Blacks and Wallabies, and a strategic showdown between two fine coaches in Todd Blackadder and Michael Cheika. It should be special.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

WARATAHS

Played 17 – Won 13, lost 4

Rd 2: beat Force 43-21 (h)

Rd 3: beat Reds 32-5 (h)

Rd 4: BYE

Rd 5: lost to Brumbies 28-23 (a)

Rd 6: beat Rebels 32-8 (h)

Rd 7: lost to Sharks 32-10 (a)

Rd 8: beat Stormers 22-11 (a)

Rd 9: lost to Force 28-16 (a)

Rd 10: beat Bulls 19-12 (h)

Rd 11: lost to Blues 21-13 (a)

Rd 12: beat Hurricanes 39-30 (h)

Rd 13: BYE

Rd 14: beat Lions 41-13 (h)

Rd 15: beat Rebels 41-19 (a)

Rd 16: beat Chiefs 33-17 (a)

Rd 17: beat Brumbies 39-8 (h)

Rd 18: beat Highlanders 44-16 (h)

Rd 19: beat Reds 34-3 (a)

Semi-final: beat Brumbies 26-8 (h)

CRUSADERS

Played 17: Won – 12, Lost 5

Rd 1: BYE

Rd 2: lost to Chiefs 18-10 (h)

Rd 3: lost to Blues 35-24 (a)

Rd 4: beat Stormers 14-13 (h)

Rd 5: beat Rebels 25-19 (a)

Rd 6: BYE

Rd 7: lost to Hurricanes 29-26 (h)

Rd 8: beat Lions 28-7 (a)

Rd 9: beat Cheetahs 52-32 (a)

Rd 10: beat Chiefs 18-17 (a)

Rd 11: BYE

Rd 12: beat Brumbies 40-20 (h)

Rd 13: beat reds 57-29 (a)

Rd 14: lost to Sharks 30-25 (h)

Rd 15: beat Highlanders 32-30 (a)

Rd 16: beat Force 30-7 (h)

Rd 17: lost to Hurricanes 16-9 (a)

Rd 18: beat Blues 21-13 (h)

Rd 19: beat Highlanders 34-8 (h)

Semi-final: beat Sharks 38-6 (a)

KEY MATCH-UPS

Benn Robinson v Owen Franks

It was a Brumbies target last weekend and one sure to be circled on the Crusaders’ whiteboard before kick-off - scrum pressure.

The ACT side were able to disrupt the Tahs’ set-piece early on last week before the NSW front-row steadied and worked their way into the match. But that pressure will increase due to the excellent technique and experience of Owen Franks.

Waratahs prop Benn Robinson isn’t short on big-game exposure himself but will need to withstand what will surely be an early onslaught from a Franks-led eight-man shove.

Wycliff Palu v Kieran Read

The clash between the Wallaby and All Black No.8s could almost be worth the price of admission on its own.

The two back-rowers are at the peak of their powers and you fancy a big game from either player will have a big bearing on the outcome of the match.

Read, who has never lost to the Waratahs (he’s won eight from eight), has put concussion troubles behind him and is back to the form that saw him named IRB player of the year in 2013. At his best with ball in hand, he has stepped up in the past three matches to make 17 runs for an average of 57m per game and scored the crucial opening try against the Sharks last weekend.

The spiritual leader of the Waratahs pack, Palu is enjoying his best Super Rugby season to date. He made a team-high 13 runs last week against the Brumbies and has made 20 offloads this season, the most by a Waratahs forward. He’s also just as likely to inspire his fellow forwards with a bone-shuddering hit, like his beauty on Christian Lealiifano last weekend.

Kurtley Beale v Dan Carter

Six years after they faced off at No.10 in Christchurch, Kurtley Beale and Dan Carter find themselves lining up against each other one slot further out at No.12 in another Super Rugby final.

Both men could easily be in the 10 shirt but such has been the form of both Bernard Foley and Colin Slade that coaches Cheika and Blackadder have arguably their main game-breaker playing the traditional Kiwi second five-eighth role.

Beale wasted little time adjusting to inside centre early this year and has a wonderful understanding with Foley in that both men are prepared to chop and change in the backline depending on the situation at hand.

Carter’s combination with Slade has only been in play for a few weeks but the veteran All Black’s sheer class has meant there have been few problems since he returned from a well-earned sabbatical.

Nemani Nadolo v Alofa Alofa

One of the few match-ups that doesn’t involve either a Wallaby or an All Black, this key battle between first-season Super Rugby wingers could go a long way to deciding the outcome.

Ex-NRL player Alofa has looked good in his 11 starts on the end of the Tahs backline, showing some flashing feet and crossing for a respectable five tries.

But his crucial task on Saturday night will be trying to shut down his supersized rival – 1.95m, 122kg attacking weapon Nadolo. The giant Fijian flyer has been one of the finds of the season, powering his way to 11 five-pointers to trail only Israel Folau (12) on the try-scoring charts.

Nadolo has been in particularly devastating form of late, racking up more than 120 run metres in four of his last five matches, and will take some stopping on Saturday night.

STATS AMAZING

Only one current NSW player has tasted victory over the Crusaders in a Waratahs jersey - Stephen Hoiles way back in 2004 in what was his Super Rugby debut in 2004.

Fancy a high-scoring affair? You could be in for a treat, as these two sides average the most points per game in 2014 (Waratahs 29.8, Crusaders 28.4). Since week 15, the Waratahs and Crusaders have also led the competition for run metres, linebreaks and offloads.

Don’t be swayed by a hot NSW start - the Waratahs have scored the opening try in their past four, and six of their past seven matches against the Crusaders. They went on to lose them all.

WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING

“We’ve been told that we would fall over at some stage. We’ll just go out there and play as we have all season. We’ll try and play attacking footy and see if we can give them some trouble.” Waratahs coach Michael Cheika.

“We are really looking forward to it. We felt that all the hard work the boys have put in this year is really about this one moment. We are under no illusion that it’s going to be a massive effort on the weekend against a red-hot Waratahs team.” Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder.

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